Inside the warehouse Gwen slowly backed away from Destra and Gouche. The Don was glaring angrily at the body at his feet whilst Destra carefully observed the twenty or so women in front of him. The skitarii ranger had to buy some time, surely her team mates must've heard the gunshot from their position. Knowing Demi he would leading the charge through the door within a couple of minutes. That might be too long to save the women though, the Gangler's didn't strike her as patient people.
She drew level with Alex and moved her head as close as she dared, "Something to share ladies", Destra asked them with a smooth voice, "maybe we should give you both a thorough searching. Maybe your employers at SPD are listening to this conversation", he added with venom.
Gwen was about to step forward but she noticed that Alex's was slowly brushing her hair away from her ear. It was then she noticed something inside the brunette's ear, a small flesh coloured earpiece. That wasn't the only surprising thing, it looked exactly the same as the one's SPD issued. Suddenly Alex's face steeled into a mask of determination, "Guess im found out", she hissed with a steely tone.
The Skitarii ranger didn't offer much of a response, she was too surprised to learn that Alex was SPD. She watched as the brunette slowly stepped forward, her heels clicking on the cold stone floor, "Well well", Destra flashed a predatory smile, "who do we have here? Perhaps you would so kind to identify yourself girly".
Alex glared at the crime boss casually, "Adeptus Mechanicus s", she flashed a smile at the man as he disguise faded, "Your going to wish i was SPD".
Gwen stared at the brunette in disbelief. She wasn't alone on here another Mechanicus was standing in front of her.
The Gangler's and their pordermen weren't so impressed with Alex, "You've got guts girl", Destra scoffed, "but there's only one of you and lots of us".
"Two of us", Gwen moved to stand beside Alex, "Adeptus Mechanicus", he disguise faded, "fancy taking on two rangers?"
A second gunshot from Destra, this one aimed at the roof stopped their conversation, "So there are two of you, we've still got you outnumbered".
"Oh but we're no ordinary Women", Alex smirked and turned to Gwen " Skitariî correct?"
The mention of the word ranger made a number of guards tense up. Skitarii Rangers were well respected not just on Earth but across the universe. Having a ranger in their midst was bad news, "Correct", Gwen Confirmed. Alex nodded "fancy a team up?"
Suddenly something clicked in the back of Gwen's mind, "Sure", Gwen smiled.
Gwen noticed something flash across a window at the far end of the warehouse, two brightly coloured figures moving in their direction. Seconds later a couple of hooded heads poked through a tiny gap in the door.
Gwen noticed Demi press a single finger against her gas mask roughly where her lips would have been. The ranger then pointed over to Faith who was holding up three fingers. Gwen could tell that Alex had seen this too and shared a brief look. Both Faith and Demi aimed their weapons towards the Gangler's just as Fatih counted down on her hand.
When Faith's countdown reached zero, both she and Demi opened fire on the group with stun blasts. With everyone's attention on the other skitarii ranger's, it allowed Gwen and Alex enough time to draw their Tesla shotguns.
A fraction of a second later a couple of small cylinders rolled across the floor in their direction, "Flash bangs", Gwen called over to Alex. Turning her back, she moved towards the startled potential escorts, "Get down and cover your ears", Gwen shouted.
The stun grenades exploded with a flash of dazzling light and an ear piercing screech. Her armour tuned out the worst effects of the blast but it still made her feel a little uncomfortable. A quick glance to her left told her that Alex was feeling the same way. The Gangler's, footsoldiers and the girls who didn't follow Gwen's order were feeling the full effect of the grenade. One thug staggered in Gwen's direction, tumbling over her crouched body. The skitarii ranger put him out of his misery with a swift Tesla shot to the head.
The appearance of the skitarii rangers had caused a number of the hired muscle to flee. Those who had stayed to fight were dropping like flies. Alex herself snagged a large man attempting to run out the rear exit.
"Just like your old times", Gwen heard Demi mumbled under his breath. She and Gwen were standing back to back trading blaster fire with a few of the more dedicated henchmen.
"Give it up", Demi bellowed over the noise, "there's no escape from here".
"I don't need to escape from here", Destra shot back, "I have friends in high places red ranger, I'll be out of here and you know it".
With the rear of the warehouse cleared out, only Destra remained standing. The eldest Gangler generals ducked behind a stack of barrels and started spraying his weapon in the direction of the Rangers, "Damn it we can't get a clean shot", Faith cursed, trading blasts with Destra.
"Fuck", Destra bellowed from the side of the room, "you rangers will pay for this", he spat viciously. Behind he could reach for his weapon, Alex stood in his path with a blaster pointed at his head, "Even you would stand in my way?" he said to the black ranger.
"Why wouldn't I?" Alex asked in confusion, "I'm Mechanicus"
Destra chuckled darkly, "You know, your parents could get you where you belong. You shouldn't be taking orders from people like this, you're a Matthews so start acting like one".
Alex's arm began to waiver and Gwen wondered what was going through her mind. Her few conversations with the ranger about her family weren't overly positive. Gwen got the impression that Alex hated her parents and the feeling was mutual from the other side. Why would Destra bring them up now though? Alex's finger twitched on the trigger, with the barrel pointed directly at his skull even a stun blast could be fatal. Sensing her partner needed help, Gwen grasped Charlie by her free arm, "It's working", Destra's smile twisted into a malevolent grin, "would your family's money get you out of jail again?"
"They didn't buy me out of prison", Alex shouted, her voice reverberating off the walls, "they've done nothing for me since the day I left home".
"Are you so sure about that?" the head of the Ganglers taunted appearing behind Destra. "disowned you might've been but you still carry the family name. Your parents wouldn't want a Matthews that was a disappointment to that name".
Doubt was creeping into Alex's mind, Gwen could see that written in her eyes. Fortunately she was saved from further torment by The don grabbing Destra and Alws shot both dead.
Demi gently rubbed Alex's back in an attempt to comfort the ranger. Her world had been severely shaken. "Don't listen to that idiot Matthews", Demi attempted to comfort his team mate, "you kicked everyone's ass at the Academy. Even if some money greased the wheels, you earned your place on this team."
"Yeah then promptly led it down the toilet", Alex sniffed, "I appreciate the effort Harkness but I want to be alone for a while". She walked away, shoulders slumped in defeat. A heavy feeling washed over Gwen, someone she cared about was hurting and there wasn't a single thing she could do about it.